Chapter 29: The Rise of a Powerful Player

Jordan leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he thought about his first target.

Tyler Collins.

His ex-wife, Hailey, had mocked him, comparing him to Tyler.

“Look at Tyler. His family is worth more than a billion dollars. Can you compare to him, you good-for-nothing?”

Now, Jordan smirked.

“I heard that the Collins family was a first-tier family in Orlando, worth over a billion dollars?”

Victoria, standing beside him, nodded. “They were, two years ago. But now? Their net worth has shrunk to around 500 million. They’re not much better than the Camdens.”

Jordan scoffed. So Hailey cheated on me with a man whose family wealth was shrinking?

Victoria, noticing his mood shift, quickly added, “Hailey must be blind to have chosen that good-for-nothing over you. Once she finds out your true identity, she’ll be drowning in regret.”

Jordan didn’t respond.

Regret?

That was her problem now.

---

Business Before Revenge

Victoria shifted gears. “The Camdens recently approached us for an 11-million-dollar investment. They’ve been offering me all sorts of incentives. But now that you’re in charge, I’ll reject them immediately.”

She had assumed Jordan would want nothing to do with them.

To her surprise, he shook his head.

“You told a lot of lies about me yesterday,” Jordan said, “but there was one thing you were right about.”

Victoria’s breath hitched.

“I keep work and personal life separate. Show me the project proposal.”

Victoria stared at him, taken aback.

He was different from the petty, vengeful men she had seen in the business world.

Most men in his position would crush the Camdens out of spite. But Jordan? He wasn’t acting on emotion—he was thinking strategically.

It made her respect him even more.

“I’ll bring it over to you now,” Victoria said, turning to leave.

Jordan suddenly stood. “Forget it. I’ll go with you. Might as well check out your office. I’d like to see if the office of a great beauty like you smells as good as you do.”

Victoria smiled slightly, her confidence returning.

---

An Unwanted Guest

Meanwhile, in the hotel lobby, Tyler Collins was still waiting.

He was anxious.

He wanted to go upstairs and see what was happening. But without an access card, he was stuck.

Just then, a woman approached him.

“Hey, Mr. Collins.”

Tyler turned and frowned. He didn’t recognize her.

Seeing his confusion, the woman laughed softly.

“Come on, you don’t remember me? That’s sad. You bought me drinks at LINX Bar the other night. Afterward, we went to… Well, let’s just say you had a great time.”

Tyler’s stomach churned.

Now he remembered. A drunken mistake.

‘Damn it. I must have been wasted to sleep with her.’

Still, he forced a charming smile. “Oh, right. You work at Ace Corporation?”

She nodded.

Tyler suddenly grabbed her hand. “Take me upstairs. Now. Miss Clarke is in danger.”

---

Tyler Bursts In

A minute later, Tyler stormed out of the elevator onto Victoria’s floor.

The first thing he overheard made him freeze.

“She knelt down the moment she saw him! I swear, not even a second passed before she dropped to her knees!”

“No way. Miss Clarke? Kneeling? Impossible.”

“It’s true! She knelt the second she saw Mr. Steele!”

Tyler ignored the gossip. He had more important things to do.

He spotted Ashley, Victoria’s secretary, and marched up to her. “Where is Miss Clarke?”

Ashley, unimpressed, replied, “She’s in her office. Do you have an appointment?”

Tyler brushed past her, ignoring the question.

He slammed the door to Victoria’s office open—

And froze.

Jordan Steele was standing beside Victoria, holding a project proposal.

In Tyler’s jealous, rage-filled mind, Victoria looked like she was handing over tasks to an assistant.

---

A Fool’s Accusation

Victoria’s face darkened. “Tyler? Who let you in?”

She was furious.

Now that she knew who Jordan really was, she wanted nothing to do with Tyler Collins.

Tyler ignored her anger. He jabbed a finger at Jordan.

“Wow, Jordan. You embarrassing thief. So this is where you’ve been hiding! You’re here to take revenge on Miss Clarke, aren’t you!?”

Jordan sighed, barely sparing him a glance. “Is there something wrong with your brain? Is this a place you can just storm into? Get lost.”

Tyler’s blood boiled.

How dare Jordan talk to him like that?

“Who the hell do you think you are? This is Victoria’s office! You should be the one to leave! Right, Victoria?”

Smack!

Victoria slapped him across the face.

“Who are you calling ‘Victoria’? Call me Miss Clarke!”

Tyler staggered, clutching his burning cheek.

Outside, Ashley burst into laughter.

Tyler’s mind was spinning.

Why was Victoria defending Jordan?

Then, a horrifying thought dawned on him.

His face twisted in disgust. “I get it now. You’re not here to take revenge on Miss Clarke…”

He pointed a shaking finger at Jordan.

“You’re here to be her bodyguard!”

Victoria and Jordan exchanged a look.

Then Jordan chuckled.

Victoria?

She nearly burst out laughing.